Blotter.



W. DL SMITH.

BLOTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY13.19!6.

1 225,,51 9 Patented May 8, 1917.

WITNESSES ATTORN EY- UNTTED STATE PATENT @FFQE.

WALTON DUANE SMITH, OF PROPHETSTOWN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CARL W. THUROW, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

BLOTTER.

Application filed May 13, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTON DUANE SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prophetstown, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Blotter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to blotters.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which a plurality of strips of blotting material are directly fastened together at one pair of adjacent ends and in which the opposite free ends diverge whereby the blotter may be easily picked up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the strips are fastened together in such a way that the free ends will normally diverge without the aid of extraneous or separate devices such as springs and the like. v

The method by which the free ends of the blottersare caused to diverge consists first, in placing the strips in superimposed position one above the other with their adjacent faces directly engaging, one pair of adjacent ends are then connected together for a distance approximating one-fourth of the length of the lower blotter. Any suitable means may be provided for fastening the strips together but it is preferable to use cement or other adhesive which is laid between the strips for a distance, approximating one-fourth of the length of the lower strip. The connected ends of the strips of blotting material are next subjected to pressure in a press of any suitable construction. The provision of fastening means at a pair of the adjacent ends of the strips and the imposition of pressure thereupon cause the opposite free ends of the strips to diverge, substantially as shown.

The present invention may be used upon either side of the blotter, and is of such a simple, cheap construction as to make the same available for advertising purposes.

A full understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing form- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191'2'.

Serial No. 97,353.

ing a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts in each of the several figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved blotter.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 4c is an enlarged detail sectional view of the united ends of the blotter.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a blotter comprising a base member or leaf 1 formed of ordinary blotting paper out into the customary shape; the same may, however, be of any form, size or proportion as will be readily apparent. Mounted upon and directly secured to one side of this base member 1 is a secondary member or leaf 2, which is likewise formed of blotting paper and is preferably, though not necessarily, of less length than the base member 1.

This secondary member or leaf 2, which may be termed the top leaf, is directly applied to the base member or leaf 1 in such manner as to have one of its end edges in alinement with one of the end edges of the base member or main blotting leaf, and is secured thereto for a distance approximating one-fourth of the length of the base memher, by having the proper cement or adhesive 3 interposed between the two leaves and allowed to dry after having been subjected to the action of pressing means, (not shown), over those portions of the two leaves which are coated with the adhesive.

This treatment compresses the connected ends of the leaves, reduces the thickness thereof and causes the fiber to be compact, whereby the opposite free ends of the leaves diverge or spread apart. Although the compressed ends of the leaves are here shown as connected together by cement or adhesive, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to such a fastening medium as other fastening devices may be used.

Assuming that the blotter is lying upon a table or desk with the longer base member or leaf 1 underneath, as illustrated in the drawing, it will be readily seen that the free end 5 of the uppermost member or leaf 2 presents a convenient portion to be grasped by the hand of the operator and enables the blotter to be easily picked up for use.

While the device has been shown and described as comprising a base member and an upper member, it will, of course, be understood that both leaves may be as readily used for blotting purposes. of the leaves together does not affect the use of either leaf for the usual purposes.

Advertising matter may be readily applied to either face of the blotter, and since the device is of such simple construction it' may be cheaply manufactured in quantities for free distribution.

Instead of two leaves, three or more may be employed, but in such case the top leaf only should be the short leaf and arranged so as to spring away from the next adjacent leaf, as shown in Fig. 5.

The blotter as illustrated herein and as made by my method comprises the strips only, fastened together as above described. In this construction there is no danger of the person using the blotter catching the same upon his coat sleeve as the parts are The cementing substantially smooth and do not have an unnecessary thickness.

I claim 1. In a blotter, a pair of superimposed leaves of blotting paper having compressed ends of reduced thickness directly fastened together and engaging each other, the opposite ends of said leaves being normally divergent by reason of the compression of th fastened ends.

2. In a blotter, a pair of superimposed leaves of blotting paper having compressed ends of reduced thickness lying face to face and directly fastened together by means of adhesive material, the opposite ends of said leaves being normally divergent by reason of the compression of the fastened ends.

3; In a blotter, a pair of superimposed leaves of blotting material having compressed ends of reduced thickness directly engaging each other and lying face to face, the compressed portions of the leaves eX- tending for a distance substantially onefourth of the length of one of the leaves and fastened together by means of an adhesive, th opposite ends of said leaves diverging by reason of the connection at the first-men tioned ends thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTON DUANE SMITH.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. JOHNSON, FRANK CLEVELAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

